Fluid coupling



July 6, 1948. s. o.y KELso 2,444,451

FLUID coUPLING l Filed oct. 18, 1945 2 sheetssneet 1 www@ Patented July 6, 1948 OFFICE FLUID COUPLVING Beecher Olen Kelso, Portland, Maine, assignor to Utilities Distributors, Inc.,\Portland, Maine, a

corporation of Maine Application October 18, 1945,r Serial No. 623,138

This invention relates to Yfluid couplings and particularly to couplings for connecting supply sources of fluid under pressure to empty cylinders vor tanks, of the type commercially used for transporting and merchandising gases, to enable the cylinders to be expeditiously and economically filled and refilled with their designed capacity of gas under pressure, or conversely for connecting relatively low pressure outlet lines to such cylinders or other tanks as high pressure sources.

Fluid vcylinders or tanks, rfor instance those utilized in merchandising domestic and commercial gases, are conventionally provided with closure valves and a common inlet-outlet nipple. Equipment required in the operation of filling such cylinders from a feed line source of gas under pressure includes a valve for the feed line and a coupling for connecting the feed line to the cylinder nipple with a uid-tight seal. The operation itself, as heretofore practiced, requires the steps of l) coupling the feed line to the cylinder nipple, as by screwing, to attain a fluid-tight coupling, (2) opening the cylinder valve, (3) opening the feed line valve, (4) closing the feed line valve, closing the cylinder valve, (6) uncoupling the feed line. These are all hand operations and are tima-consuming.` The same multiple steps are required for connecting an outlet line to the lled cylinder.

Itis a primary object oi this invention to provide a iiuid coupling which will reduce the time and labor involved in securing suitable pressuretight coupling and in valve manipulation, particularly by the provision of apparatus which combines two or more of the above operations into a` simple, single, continuous manual operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fluid coupling which contains as a unit a coupling collet, a pressure-tight sealing member and a valve which, in the preferred form, are actuated'in succession by a continuous motion of an operating handle so that the vcoupling may be permanently connected to a flexible feed'or outlet line and the steps of sealing the coupling to the nipple of a cylinder and opening the supply or outlet line valve are preformed in rapid succession byone motion of the operating handle. After performance of these steps, the cylinder valve is opened, the cylinder i'llled, or emptied, as the case maybe, the cylinder valve closed, and the closing of the feed or outlet line valve and unseating andloosening of the coupling from the cylinder nipple are then accomplished by a single return motion of the `operating handle.

11 Claims. (Cl. 284-18) A further advantageous feature of couplings 'embodying the present invention is that loss of gas during the uncoupling operation is minimized by reason of the close proximity, in coupledposition, of the feed or outlet line valve and the cylinder Valve.

A fluid coupling embodying the invention hereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the coupling'with the parts thereof in normal uncoupled position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view wherein certain parts of the device have been moved with relation to other parts of the device by operation of the operating handle to establish initial coupling contact with a cylinder nipple;

Fig. `4 is a further horizontal sectional view, similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but showing certain ,parts of the vdevice in nal coupled connection with a cylinder nipple;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line B-B of Fig. 5, but with certain top parts omitted;

Fig. '7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a, front elevation of the coupling shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a detail of an operating part of the device;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatical illustration of one mode of utilizing the coupling in the operation of iilling a gas cylinder; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line C-C of Fig. 5, but with its top broken away.

The coupling shown in the `drawing comprises a housing 2 having an axially centered hollow valve stem 4 extending from its front face, at the right as shown in Fig. l, the valve stem 4 being surrounded by a collet l5` Extending through the rear of the housing 2 is an axially offset connection 8 to the coupling and an operating handle I0 is positioned on top of the housing for operating a control shaft I2 which extends through the housing and is journailed inside lower and upper housing bosses I4 and I6, respectively.

The collet comprises two substantially semicircular jaws 20 `and 2| mounted in housing 2 for oscillation on trunnion-like pins 2.2 and 23, respectively. Inner portions 24 and 25 of th?A jaws and 2l extend well into the housing 2, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer sides of inner end portions .24 and are drilled to form seats for springs 26 and 21 which bear against the inner sides of housing 2 and tend to urge the inner end portions 24 and l25 of jaws 2i! and 2| towards each other and against a two-lobe cam v28 iixedly mounted on control shaft l2. As shown inrFig. 7, pins 22 and 23 may, if ldesiredfne'l'ournalled in ball bearings seated in upper and lower pairs of recesses in the housing 2, externally covered by screw held cover plates as shown. l

As shown in Figs. 2 and 9, connection 8 leads to conduit members which collectively form f sliding valve assembly which is arranged for slide ing movement longitudinally with respect to the 4 Assuming that the control handle is in the position shown in Fig. 1, cams 28 and 69 will be in the positions shown in Fig. 2, the cam 60 bear-` ing on its low side against the guide 32 and the duplicate lobes of cam 28 bearing on their low sides against the inner end portions 24 and 25, respectively of the collet jalws. When the operating handle is moyed to rotate control shaft l2 in a clock-wise direction, 'asgsho'wn in Figs. 3 and 4,

.l initial movement will result in cam 28 closing the collet B, for instance gripping a nipple 62 of a cylinder. During this initial movement, the cams 653,' as shown in Fig. 3, also start to bear against housing 2 and collet 4. The sliding assembly includes a rear guide 3% and a forward guide 32,

as shown in Fig. 5, each of these guides being shaped to bear against the inner sur-face of the cylindrical housing 2, forward guide 32 being at thkc'sides to span the rearwardly ex,- ten collet jaw portions' gli and 25.

ear gude'ilil has a vertical conduit 3l (Fig. 2) 'which leadsvupwardly toj a' pipe 35 and'downf wardly to a pipe 34 (Figs. 5 and 11), the. pipes 33 and 34 connecting the rear guide 3Q with the forward guide 32. This splitting of the conduit into two feedlines't?y and 34 permits cam 28 to oper-v ate therebetween Iagainst member 25 of the collet', as shown in Figs; 5 and 6.

I orward valveassembly'guide 3 2 has conduitsv 35 which connect pipes 33 andf34 to a common forward axially :centered outlet 3:6, as shownv in Figjg. AScrew-threaded on and extending forf wardly from the'outlet 3:6 lan .axially` centered va'llfer assembly including ua valve housing 4U which "includes, sleeve-like X'nsion 42 of diminished diameter. Mountedin 'extension 42 for. sliding movement isthe hollow T-valve stem` 4 4'which7 has, within thehousing 40,Y an annular flange 4'5 whichseats4 itself against an annular). sealing suriace 4.6 abutting the annular wall between housing 4l) and extension 4:2. VThe inner exposed area of the flange is of su'lilcientI area so'tliat pressure contained within thervalfve housing 4@ will continuously urge the valve stem member. 44, vwhen unobstructed., in an outwarddirec- .tion to seal flange'45'a'g'ainkstsurfacey 4 6 and thus s ealutlhe4 housing 4Q.. Valve 46 will, therefore open only |when stem 44 movesA inwardly relative.

@housing mi against the Pressure Offluid; in housing 4D. In order to prevent rotation of valve Siem 44, ii sxisllds. inwardly beyond. 11ans@ 45 with bifilrbaid rltr, sae-minding a Vertical. guide pini fixed across 'outlet 3@ and relativeto which pin 41, the valve` -stemvfniay slide.;

Loo-'scly mounted varound the entension 42,4 for.

sliding movement relative thereto, is an annu-lus 5i). a tapered resilient AsealY 5.2. Seal 5 2 is he against outward movement by. any suitable means, (not shown);A and, a compression springl 54I 1s.y VA ovid'edy between annulus 5,0 andthe annular` wall portion of housing 4 0. o

in orderto: actuate. the sliding. valve assembly wim respect to 'the housing zand'collet s, me control shaft t2. carriesfin addition to. the centrai (,:ollet 'operating cam, 2 3', duplicatefupper andlowerfoperating cams 6G. As` shown lin Figs. 2, 3l

and 'these Gems. beef agastupser arid lower rear surfaces of forward valve assembly guide membw 3 2, and @lavement O f: Cogitel'. shaftl2 by handle'iresults in successive operation, ofthe, Collet ses. val- Vev assembly, as. will now. be described.

- the cylinder chamber port 65.

guide .3.2; of thel ycenduit and valve assembly to move the latterto the right as yshown in Fig. 3

rclativeto. the. housing 2 and jaws 2B and 2 l, until the sealing surface 52 abuts a cooperating tapered sealing'seat 64 formed in nipple 62 a predetermined distance outwardly from the wall of In this position of Fig.. 3, the. valve stem flange 4.5 hasbeen care. i; Li

ried forward with and remains seated. against the sealing surface 4,5. Further rotation of control shaft l2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, how

f ever, results in continued movement of the conduit and valve assembly to the right relative to i the housing against the. opposition. ofsurface "64 bearing against sealing. surface 5,2, the housing il acting tocompress spring 54 to. render the seal fiuidetight. With suchl continued. movement the outer end of valve stem 44 is prevented` from further movement relative tonipple 62 by reason of engagement of its lower shelf portion with av cooperating abutment, s uch as the upper end portion of the Wall of. cylinder portvi, andhence thesealbetween surfaces 45 and 4B is. broken yby continued movement of thesurface 46 away from flange 45` to the position shownV in Fig. 4 so that port'lll leading to` the hollow interior portion of valve stemmi is placed in, communication with theinternalchamber of housingv 40, thereby permit/ting flow of a supply of fluidunder pressure, in the case of drilling. operation, from the connection 8 as an,nlet through the con-duits 3l, 3-3,

` 3,4, 3,5, Sport 4,97*, and hollow valve stem 44. to

thenipple. UponA opening thecylinder valve to.

the positionshown in Fig. l() toitsinitial position,

o fi Figi, During this movement, spring 54 will move housing liuto the. rear. carrying. stem 44y outv of engagement Withthecylinder portabutment and closing valve surfaces,4 4.5. and 46., underv the pressureof. fluid. in` housingw, andA the. collet jaws, willmove. outwardly froma nipple-L 62I and permit. theV `coupling to.be. freed Oil then nipple..

Tha-Huid Conduit and' valve. assembly. with the coupling.Valveclcsed,`may then be returned tor the initialI-pos-ition'ofFig. l inreadinessfor cou-` pliss- 'tp anther; nipple,4

If Willlbe.v understand that. frdesisng Opel ation, the elements,444,and 520i thelsliding valve assemblyshouldbe so proportioned that the Hemel' distance.' between@ a. plane passing. through. en Quisids. rumerencs 0f. Quplins sealing suriace-Z-atva given diameter, and thev end fsurfaceof.valvastem.44.1ip I.ex-tension E5 will hesornewhatgless than thexed distance between,

a. Plana, passing.; three-sh an insider. Circuzmfee enge 0f.4 nipple-f Sealing.; Surface- 64 .y at v thel Same. given diameter,

extension 66 engages the` abutment wall of 65. This `rwill insure a fluid-tight; connection with the nipple before the coupling valve opens. Stated somewhat non-technically-thenormal distance between surface 5.2' andthe end of lip 66 should be less than the xed distance between cooperating` surface 64 and ,abutment wall of port B5 of the nipple 62. .l

Fig.v Q isa diagrammatic illustration of.v how the coupling of this invention may be .connected with 2L source of gassupply under pressure 10 to permit rapid filling :of cylinders suchas 13. In Fig. 10, a flexible feed line 1I `leads from supply 10 to inlet connection 8 of a' coupling. The coupling may be suspended 'as by chain 12in a |position so that it may be readily moved towards a nipple 62properly shaped ashereinbefore def, scribed, inserted in the head of cylinder 13.2 The cylinder Valve is operated by a hand wheel` 14 to lopen and close communication between nipple 62 and the internal chamber ofthe cylin-ry der. 1li illustrates a, conventional safety; valve on the cylinder. 1 f l Aswill be understood, such an apparatus, during the operation of coupling, combinesiin substantially one operation the manual steps of` sealing the feed line to the nipple and Vopening the feed line valve; while, in the operation of uncoupling, Yit combines in substantially one operation the unsea'ling and closing of the feed line valve and freeing of the coupling from the nipple. Multiple filling operations can therefore proceed rapidly. Furthermore, vduring the uncoupling operation, the only gas lost is that small volume which is contained in the hollow valve stem between port "I9v and the cylirder valve lll.` Filling operations utilizing the coupling of the invention therefore have substantial advantagesover prior known filling operations.

While the description hereinbefore given is. for the most part concerned with affilling 'operation, it should be recognized that couplingsl of this invention are equally adapted forunloading opera-tions. For example, for unloading railway` tank cars orv vehicular trucks, the couplingr of this invention may be afixed to `an inlet line of the storage `tank and, afterr connection to the railway or truck tank, permits filling of the storage tank -by impressing upon the tank or truck load a pressurehigher than that in the storage tank, as with a pump. In other words, while a lling operation has been described as a specific example of an advantageous use of the coupling of this invention, no limitation is meant. to be imposed uponthe use of thecoupling, which,

regardless of use, is intended to bebroadlycovered as a structure, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable valve coupling unit comprising va housing, means mounted on said housing for detachably gripping an inlet nipple, a fluid conduit defining member movable with respect to said housing, a sea-ling element carried by said conduit member and movable between retracted and extended positions thereon, means yieldably supporting said conduit member in its extended position, a valve in said conduit arranged to be actuated by movement of said sealing element toward its retracted position to open the valve, a manual control element movable from an off to an on position, a connection rendered operative by a first portion lof said movement to actuate said gripping means, and an additional connection rendered operative by the continued movement of said manual control element for moving said conduit member to a position ex-z` tended relative to said housing to :move rsa-id sealing. element to a position adapted lto cooperate `yieldably` `with a sea-ling =seat1on said' nipple to form :a pressure-tight seal 'and to open.

2. A detachable valve coupling unitcom'prising a housing, means mounted on said housing for detachably grippingaan inlet nipple, a fluid conduit defining member movable with respect to said housing andsaid` gripping means, a seal-4 ing surface carried by said conduit ymemberfbutr yieldably movable inwardlyl relative thereto, a

valve-in said conduit, a terminal valve stem asso-` 3. A valve coupling; uni-t adapted for couplingwith an inlet nipple, comprising. a housing, a fiuid conduit defining member movable: with re-i spect to said housing-one end of saidlcondui't member being adapted for connection toa source of fluid under` pressure, a .Valve in saidconduit normally closed when said conduitlmemberis thus connected, aterminal valve stem `associated with the Jother end of said conduit 'member-and" extending therebeyond but adaptedwith inward,v motion relative to saidconduit memberto open said valve against the pressure of fluid in said conduit, a sealing surface circurnscribing said terminal-valve stem and yieldablymovable inwardly relativeto saidconduit, a collet havingl jaws extending externally of "said conduit mem-, ber pivotally mounted on said housing for 'pivotal movement towards and away from each other, and means for successively pivoting said.A collet-jawstofrelativef .positions adapted to grip-iy an inlet nipple and for moving said conduit memberto extended positionirelative to `said housing and-collet` against obstructiontto movez-.-

ment of said sealing surface and` valve stem.'

4. -A valve coupling unit adapted for coupling with an inlet nipple, vcomprising a housing, affluid conduit defining member movable withzrespect` tosaid housing, oneend ofV said conduit member being adapted for connection to a source of fluid i under pressure, a valvein said conduit normally closed when said conduit member is .thus con--r nected, a terminal valve stem l associated withthe other end of said conduitmember and normally movable therewith and extending therebeyond but adapted 'with inward motion relative to said conduit member to open said valve against the pressure of fluid in said conduit, a sealing surface mounted on said conduit member around said terminal valve stem and also normally movable with said conduit member but yieldably movable inwardly relative to said conduit member independently of said valvestem, a collet having jaws extending externally of said conduit member andV pivotally mounted on said housing for pivotal movement towards and away from each other, and means for successively pivoting said collet jaws to relative positions adapted to grip an inlet nipple and for moving said conduit member to extended position relative to said housing and collet against obstruction to movement of meegaat 1J. said sealing surface and: valveystem. with said' cemluit. memben,

5, A valve. coupling as claimed in: claim 4;, wherein the pivoting; and moving` means.. includes. at cam to!` pivoting the jaws of: the. collet and a. cam for moving the conduit member relative to. said; housing..

, 6; Avalvey coupling unit'. as, claimed in claim. 4, wherein the pivoting and moving means includes: a. cam shaftjournalled inthe housing; a cam ony saidl shaft. fiorV pivoting the jaws; of the. collety and acam#` onA said shaft. for moving thecondut member relative to the housing, said collet can-r. having. a high lobe advanced on said2 control shaft. with respectto thehighlobeot said conduit member cam, whereby:l continuous: rotation orf said: cam. shatt causes. movement; ot said collet' jaws. andi said conduitV member in: rapid succession.

. 7?.. A. valve coupling claimedl in claim. 4, wherein the terminal valve stem associated with the` conduit member isv hollow and. formsV theV out'- let of saidconduit and whereinthe. sealing sur.- face.- circumscribes: said: hollow valve@ stem..

- 81 For use `withan. inlet nipple-having, a sealing; seat and an abutment spaced inwardly of said; nipplea pnedetermined distance' from said. seat, a. deinemhable\v valve coupling unit comprising a housing, afluid. conduit defining member: movableevthrespect tofsaid housing. one endfof sai-d.

conduit. member beine adapted. for: connection toasonrcesof il-uid'under pressure, a valve in said conduit; normallyr closed; when said conduitmembasis. thus connected-, a: terminal valve stem associated. with the othen end; oit said oonduitmem-` ben and extending. therebevond; but'. adapted. Wlthi inward motion;- rel'ative'. tol said. conduit. membra#V toa open. saidvalve. against thel pressure of; fluid im. said'. conduit, asealing surfacemounted around said terminal valvey stem; andi spacedk inwardly; from the end: of said stems a; distance; less; than. the; distance?. between'. said nippleseat. and nip ple abutment, but. being: yieldably movable. inward-lvv relative to.l said'l conduit; independently' of saint valve stem; a collet having j'avvsl pivotall'y mount'- edf on ,said-g housing for: pivotal; movementtowardsg ami'. away' from. each other, and came means ion` pivoting said collet; jaws to relativa positionsz ad'a-ptedf` to; grip.A saidi inlet' nipple and. non moving' said'- conduit; member to` extended. position rela.- t'iveto; saidi housing, and: collet, first to seat* said sealing surface against'. said.v nipplel seat7 to.` form; ai pressure-tight seal; andthento carry; saidivalve` stem. against, saim nipple abutment tof open4 saldi valve', i Y

9:. detachable valve-coupling unthavingl, inL combination., a housing; gripping means`- carried thev housingI fondetachablv gripping am inlet.-

, tion to the conduit byuI engagement with an obstruction provided' by the inlet nipple to' open the valve, and a.l manual control' element carriedv by the housing shiftable from an off to an on. position, and connectionsA rendered operative by said: shift to: the on: position rst to actuate the gripping means. andvthereafvter to advance the conduit defining memberto open the valve.

10; A detachablevalve-coupling unit having, in combination, a housing, gripping means carried-v by thehousing operable to lmove into gripping eogagement with the. nipple to. be coupled, a shutoff' valvev assembly shiftabl'e in the .housing to-A Ward the. nipple to. bie coupled and including a. valve, opening. element arranged to be engagedi against thel obstruction provided by the nipple e tombe coupled to openy the valve, .anda manually operablecontrol comprising amanual' control element shiftable from an 01T to an oni position", a cam. actuated by the. first part of'said'. movement toA actuate the. gripping means, and a cam ren.- dered'. operative by the latter part of said movementto: move the valve assembly toward the nipple to open the valve.

11.r Aidetachable valve-coupling unit having, in.

g combination, a: housing. grippingmeans mounted;

on. saidhousingfor detachably gripping an inlet: nipple, a fluid' conduit defining member movable with respect tosaidhousing and: said gripping means; a valve in said conduit. a valve stent as'- sociated with said4 conduit member and extending` therebeyondy forl engagement. against anqobf struction, provided' bv the inlet nipple to. be coupled to open-1 the valve,.a; cam shaft journalled in the housing, an: operating handle for moving said; cam shaft from an oii ton arrI on position, a. cam on said: shaitrendered operative,- by a rst por.- tion= of said shaft movement for' actuating the gripping means;,andl a cam/onl said shaft rendered operative during the` latter port-ionA of said. shaft'. movement. for moving-f the' conduit. member rela:- tive to the housing.

. BEEGHER. OLEN KIELSO.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the' file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Koehn Feb. 13, 1945: 

